1st Advantage MortgageBelknap County households have a median income of $92,783 and median rent of $1,167 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in New Hampshire before sharing details.
On this page
- A quick profile of Belknap County
- Work, industries and travel time in Belknap County
- Paychecks and income spread in Belknap County
- Renting and owning in Belknap County
- Towns and communities in Belknap County
- Regional comparison for Belknap County
- A Belknap County household budget, worked through
- Before borrowing in Belknap County
- More Belknap County figures
- Checking a lender's license in New Hampshire
- A Belknap County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Belknap County
With an estimated 64,659 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Belknap County ranks 7th of 10 in New Hampshire for population. Land area is 402 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 161 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Belknap County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 12 Census places inside Belknap County, Laconia leads by population with about 17,085; 7 of the 12 are incorporated.
Work, industries and travel time in Belknap County
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Belknap County residents work in education and health care and 13% in retail trade. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.1% in Belknap County. Long commutes are common here: 17% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 4.0% of the total (4.6% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Belknap County workers | vs New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.4% | -1.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.7% | +0.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.9% | -0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.3% | -2.1 pts |
| Construction | 8.2% | +1.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.1% | +0.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Belknap County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Paychecks and income spread in Belknap County
At $92,783, the typical Belknap County household income is 41% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 4th among New Hampshire's 10 county-level areas.
| Band | Belknap County | Compared with New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.0% | +2.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.2% | +0.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 33.6% | +0.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 13.2% | -3.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 47% of Belknap County households make $100,000 or more, and 18% make less than $35,000. Census counts 8.5% of Belknap County residents in poverty, against 7.2% across New Hampshire. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.449 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Belknap County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Renting and owning in Belknap County
A typical Belknap County rental runs $1,167 a month including utilities, which is 22% below New Hampshire. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 50% of renter households here. Home values center on $374,900, or 4.0 years of median income. Owners occupy 80% of homes. The median home was built in 1979, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | Belknap County | New Hampshire | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,167/mo | $1,491/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $374,900 | $402,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 28% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.2% | 5.2% | n/a |
Because most Belknap County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Towns and communities in Belknap County
12 Census places fall mainly inside Belknap County; the 12 biggest are below. They account for 49,685 residents, leaving about 23% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $117,088 at the median in Gilmanton, $52,594 in Belmont. None of the 12 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laconia | city | 17,085 | $73,218 | $1,224 | 5 mi |
| Gilford | town | 7,830 | $116,635 | $1,150 | 2 mi |
| Barnstead | town | 4,994 | $111,660 | $1,395 | 15 mi |
| Tilton | town | 4,063 | $66,667 | $948 | 8 mi |
| Gilmanton | town | 4,026 | $117,088 | $1,125 | 7 mi |
| Tilton Northfield | CDP | 3,101 | $66,705 | $998 | 10 mi |
| Sanbornton | town | 3,053 | $113,750 | $1,289 | 9 mi |
| Meredith | CDP | 2,617 | $59,375 | $1,046 | 10 mi |
| Belmont | CDP | 1,378 | $52,594 | $919 | 6 mi |
| Center Harbor | town | 955 | $104,313 | n/a | 13 mi |
| New Hampton | CDP | 302 | $105,938 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Alton | CDP | 281 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Regional comparison for Belknap County
Distances run center to center, from Merrimack County at 20 miles out to Rockingham County at 40. Rockingham County leads the group on income ($118,331), Carroll County trails ($86,463), and Belknap County out-earns 4 of the six. The list crosses into Maine, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belknap County | - | $92,783 | $1,167/mo | 80% |
| Merrimack County, NH | 20 mi | $97,004 | $1,360/mo | 73% |
| Strafford County, NH | 25 mi | $88,570 | $1,488/mo | 67% |
| Carroll County, NH | 27 mi | $86,463 | $1,195/mo | 83% |
| Grafton County, NH | 35 mi | $88,261 | $1,301/mo | 71% |
| York County, ME | 38 mi | $88,333 | $1,339/mo | 77% |
| Rockingham County, NH | 40 mi | $118,331 | $1,687/mo | 78% |
A Belknap County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Belknap County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Belknap County: $7,732
- Housing at the median rent of $1,167 uses 15%
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $2,158 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Before borrowing in Belknap County
What the Belknap County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Fixed incomes. Belknap County's median age is 48.4. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Consolidation math. With 47% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Renters under pressure. When 50% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
More Belknap County figures
Degree holders: 34% of adults over 25. 5.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Belknap County | New Hampshire | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.4 | 43.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 33.6% | 40.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.2% | 5.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.9% | 5.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.0% | 4.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.5% | 16.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.5% | 7.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | 3.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Belknap County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.5% |
| 60+ min | 8.5% |
Checking a lender's license in New Hampshire
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Belknap County borrowers answers to the New Hampshire Banking Department. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: New Hampshire guide.
A Belknap County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Belknap County residents:
- Price the Belknap County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Belknap County credit union about member loans.
Related local guides
The New Hampshire guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Belknap County earn?
The median is $92,783; 47% earn $100,000 or more and 18% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Belknap County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,167 against $1,491 statewide, and 50% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Belknap County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 80% of Belknap County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Belknap County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Laconia, Gilford, Barnstead, Tilton, Gilmanton and 7 more.
Are Belknap County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.